Catalans Dragons launched a big weekend of rugby in Perpignan by defeating Huddersfield, the Super League leaders, 13-12 at Stade Gilbert Brutus through a long-range Scott Dureau drop goal to offer further evidence of their own play-off credentials. With their rugby union neighbours in England preparing for the European Cup semi-final against Northampton, the Dragons completed an outstanding April in which they have drawn one game and won the other five, most notably at Warrington and Wigan.

Despite taking the lead through a David Ferriol try in the first minute, they were 12-6 behind at half-time after Lee Gilmour and Scott Grix scored for the Giants. But Dureau converted a try from Jason Baitieri midway through the second half to bring the Dragons level and then kicked the winning point with nine minutes remaining to condemn Huddersfield to a second consecutive away defeat, after they slumped to the Crusaders in Wrexham on Good Friday.

The result gives Warrington the chance to take over at the top of the table on points difference if they win at Bradford on Sunday, and such is the congestion among Super League's leading pack that St Helens could then move one point clear with victory at Hull on Monday.

In Saturday night's other game Salford bounced back from a wretched Easter in which they conceded 112 points in consecutive defeats with a 34-16 win against Harlequins to extend an even more miserable run for the London club. Quins were joint top of the table when they last won in March, but have now gone seven matches without a win and it was easy to see why as they were 22-4 behind by half-time despite taking an early lead through a Mike Burnett try.

Adam Clay, a 20-year-old wing making his senior debut because of Salford's injury problems, scored the City Reds' first two tries in the space of 12 minutes, and Wayne Godwin, Luke Patten and Chris Nero also crossed. Iafeta Paleaaesina and Vinnie Anderson added further tries in the second half as Salford took a first step towards rescuing a season that has been dogged by coaching uncertainty.

They hope to resolve that by securing a work permit for Kurt Wrigley, currently the South Sydney assistant coach who the Reds want to take over as soon as possible after Friday's confirmation that Shaun McRae will not be returning after his stress-related illness.

Leeds paid a heavy price for their 48-6 win at Castleford on Friday with Kallum Watkins, who has been one of their most consistent performers, ruled out for 12 weeks with damaged wrist ligaments.